dabrowat

Is there HUGE difference in the gas mileage between the 4.6 and the 5.4L(with the 2D extended cab)? Also if there is a tow hitch does it mean that it has the cooler for the transmission? Thanks

LovetheTide

What do you mean by huge?

Yes, I believe if there is a hitch you must have to towing package, meaning you do have a tranny cooler.

dewman

A trailer hitch could have been installed after-market so that is not a true indicator of whether the truck has the tow package. Did you buy the truck new from the dealer? If so, then perhaps it has the tow package. The only way to know for sure is to crawl under the front and look for the transmission cooler.

I bought my 96 F150 on eBay from a used car dealer near Philly. It came with the factory installed wiring harness for hooking up a trailer. It also came with the factory installed harness to hook up a brake controller. I crawled under the front and checked and there was the transmission cooler. BUT, the truck had no trailer hitch on it, not even a hitch-ball on the bumper. I self-installed the hitch so I could tow my utility trailer.

Dan"Gerous"

You can't miss the tranny cooler, pop the hood and it's right there about level with the bumper at the bottom of the radiator. It's huge

Driving with no load the 4.6 will get slightly better. But if you put any strain the 4.6 will consume more gas because the 5.4 has more power and torque to handle the added strain.

Here's an example; I could get 19 on the hwy with my 4.6 with no load. Hook up my snowmobile trailer with 2 sleds and it drops to 11. In my 5.4 I get about 18 on the hwy with no load and it only drops to 14 pulling the same exact trailer. At the time I had a performance exhaust, air intake and synthetic oil in the 4.6. The 5.4 is still stock but I will be doing the same exact mods this week so it should help it be better in both area's over the 4.6.

Both trucks were identacle; 4x4 extended cabs.

dabrowat

All im gonna be towing is a ATV and a dirtbike. its about 800lbs with the trailer?

Dan"Gerous"

Owning both, I would recommend the 5.4

dewman

You would be fine with either the 4.6 or the 5.4 considering what you are towing. The 5.4 wouldn't lose quite as much mpg when towing, but you should have more than enough power with the 4.6.

dabrowat

If i drive about 65mph with the bikes, how much mpg's could i expect to lose?

dewman

My 1996 F150 gets about 18 mpg highway, if I keep it 65 or below. I go deer hunting and the hunting property is about 140 miles from my home. I load my 500lb atv into the bed of my truck, along with all my hunting gear, and I get about 15-16mpg keeping it below 65. That should give you a decent idea of how much mpg you will give up while you are towing.

dabrowat

So in summary the 4.6 and 5.4 get about 1mpg difference but the 5.4L will get better gas mileage when pulling?